Semi-automatic water softener



smnuwommxc WATER SOFTENER Filed June 9, 1928 f 28 v I 6224 .2 59 QPatented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCAR W. JOHNSON, OFROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PERMUTIT'COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARESEMI-AUTOMATIC WATER SOFTENER Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to base-exchange water softeners generally, butis more parto be manually operated at the time when regeneration isrequired so as to bring the valve to the first positlon of regeneration,for

the salt wash, this operation of the mechanism serving to store energyby the raising of a weight, winding of a spring, or the like, suflicientto insure the subsequent automatic operation of the valve operatingmechanism to shift the valve from the salt wash to the rinse positionand, again, from the rinse position back to the softening position.

Still another important feature of my in vention consists in providing avalve operating mechanism including means for releasably holding thevalve in the salt wash and rinse positions, the said means beingarranged to be operated by a trip bucket into which a certain definiteportion of the waste water during the salt wash and during the rinse isarranged to be diverted, the trip bucket when partly loaded in thismanner serving to release the valve for movement from salt wash positionto rinse position and when loaded a still further predetermined amountserving to release the valve a second time for movement from rinseposition to softening position. With this arrangement I am enabled tovary the duration of the salt wash and rinse operations by varying theportion of the waste water directed into the trip bucket or by varyingthe tension in a spring against which the trip bucket is arranged tooperate.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figurelis a view of a water softening apparatus equipped with my improvedmechanism for the semi-automatic control of the operation thereof; and

Fig. 2 is a'front elevation of themechanism itself on a larger scale.

1928. Serial No. 284,248.

The water softening apparatus in connection with which I haveillustrated my invention comprises a softener tank 5 and a brine tank 6,the latter being preferably of the type. wherein a charge of brine isproduced between regenerations, this type being shown in the SweeneyPatent 1,693,829 issued December 4, 1928. The invention, however, is notlimited to use with a softener having this or any other type of brinetank, but may, 'for example, be applied to a softener designed fordirect internal dry salting like many domestic hand-operated softeners.Also, while I have, for the sake of simplicity, shown a single multipleport valve 7 preferably of a plate type it should be understood that theinvention is not limited to use either of,a single valve, inasmuch astwo or more interconnected valves might be employed, or a valve orvalves of the particular type referred to, inasmuch as plunger orplug-type valves are available suitable for the present purpose.Reference may be had, for example, to Harwood et al., Patent 1,593,300,issued July 20, 1926, showing a multiple port valve adapted to controlthe operation of a softener as herein contemplated. In view of thisreference it will not be necessary to go into a discussion of theconstruction of the valve proper. It will suifice for the presentpurposes merely to indicate the various pipe connections leading to andfrom the valve.

The hard water is supplied through pipe 8 and during normal softeningoperation is conducted through the valve to pipe 9 leading to the bottomofthe softener. The softened water leaving the top of the tank 5 isconducted through pipe 10 and through the valve 7 to the service pipe11. At the time of regeneration, when the valve is shifted to what Iprefer to call the salt wash position, the hard water supplied throughthe pipe 8, after passage through the valve 7, is conducted through pipe12 to the brine tank 6 and displaces the brine therefrom, as describedin the Sweeney patent above referred to. The brine is conducted throughpipe-13 and, after passage through the valve 7, passes upwardly throughpipe 10, downwardly through softener tank 5, and out of the bottom ofthe tank through pipe 9. The latter conducts this waste water, namely,spent brine containing lime and magnesium, to the waste pipe 14,

the valve 7 in'the salt wash position serving to establish communicationbetween the pipes 9 and 14. Following the salt wash, when the valve isshifted to the rinse position, the hard water supplied through the pipe8, after passage through the valve 7, is conducted through pipe 9 to thebottom of the softener tank 5 for passage upwardly tlierethrough torinse the mineral bed and also displace any hard water from the headspace in the tank injected during the salt wash. Incidentally, asdescribed in my Patent 1,628,541, issued May 10, 1927, this upflowserves to pick up brine from a residual pool in the bottom of the tankand carry the same up through the bed to regenerate the upper strata ofthe mineral bed which, toward the end of the downfiow during the saltwash, was rendered more or less exhausted by contact with the hardwater. The Waste water leaving the top of the tank is conducted throughpipe 10 and, after passage through the valve 7, is conduct ed throughWaste pipe 14 to the sewer or other waste receptacle. Following therinse, when the valve 7 is shifted back to the softening position thenormal direction of flow for softening, as first above described, isresumed.

According to the. present invention the valve 7, as best appears in Fig.2, is mounted on a bracket 15 or other suitable support fastened, asindicated at 16 (Fig. 1), to the side of the tank and has a pulley ordrum 17 fastened to the stem ordrive shaft 18 thereof. The pulley orother equivalent element may be provided with any suitable means tendingnormally to turn the same in one direc tion and while I have shown acable 19 wound about the periphery of the pulley and having weights 20suspended thereon, it will be evident that a spring or other equivalentmeans might be employed. The valve, as appears from the descriptionabove, is arranged to occupy any one of three positions, namely,softening, salt wash, and rinse. Arms A and B, fastened to the pulley 17preferably as indicated at 21 to turn with it and the stem 18, arearranged to determine the three operative positions of the valve. Thearm A, it should now be noted, is slightly longer than the arm B. Thisdifference in length plays a part in the shifting of'the valve from thesalt wash position to the rinse position, when the arm B, because of itssmaller length, is free to pass the stop C, Whereas the arm A, becauseof its greater length, is arranged to come into engagement with thestop. The stop C is provided on a tiltable beam 22 pivoted as at 23, toa lateral extension 24 of the bracket 15. The

beam 22 normally occupies a substantially vertical position, being'heldin contact with a set screw 25 by means of a coiled tension spring 26,one end of which is fastened to the upper end of the beam 22 and theother end of which is fastened to an adjustable screw 27. The latterpasses freely through an opening in a lug 28 provided on the bracket 15and has an adjusting nut 29 threaded on the projecting end thereof. Whenthe beam is in its normal vertical position the stop C is projected tothe left sufliciently to lie in the path of the end of the arm B and tohold the valve against turning under the action of the weight 20. Thebeam 22 is, however, arranged to be tilted when a trip bucket 30is'loaded to a certain extent in a novel manner presently to bedescribed. The bucket 30 is suspended from an arm 31 extending laterallyfrom the beam-22 on the opposite side from the spring 26 so that theload of the bucket tends to counteract the pull of the spring. The beamis aranged to be tilted from its normal position when the bucket 30 hasbeen partially filled, this movement being sufficient to afiordclearance for the arm B to swing past the stop C,and the beam isarranged .to be further tilted when the bucket has been loaded a stillfurther amount or nearly filled, in which position of the beam the stop0 is retracted far enough to allow the longer arm A to pass the same.The loading of the bucket is accomplished by diverting a certaindefinite portion of the waste water during the salt wash-and during therinse. It is during the salt wash that the bucket is loaded sufficientlywith the spent brine to tilt the beam to allow the arm B to pass thestop 0 and it is during the rinse that the bucket is loaded a stillfurther amount with waste water to tilt the beam to allow arm A to passthe stop C. In this way, it will be evident that the duration of thesalt wash can be determined accurately and likewise the duration of therinse. The duration of the one is not dependent on the duration of theother; the arms A and B can be made as long or as short as need be sothat the salt wash and rinse steps can be prolonged or shortened asconditions seem to warant. While the arms A and B may be provided of acertain fixed length suitable for average requirements it will beevident that some variations one way or another might be desired ininstallations using different minerals and for that reason the arms areshown as adjustably secured to the pulley at 21 to permit the same to beextended or retracted as desired. For the purpose of diverting a portionof the Waste water from the pipe 14, I have provided a fitting 32 havinga restricted outlet opening 33 therein and on the upstream side of thisopening having tapped in a by-pass tube 34 .turning in a clockwisedirection under the action of the weight 20. With the pulley sodisposed, thevalve 7 is set for the softening operation. When, from atest of the Water or simply from observation of its characteristics, itis evident that the softener needs regenerating, the bucket 30 filleddur ing the previous regeneration is emptied, and the arms A and B aremoved counterclockwise to the position shown, the weight 20 beingcorrespondingly raised due to the winding of the cable 19 on the pulley17. The stop C is retracted by hand against the action of the spring 26to allow the arms it. and B to pass the stop C and to assume therespective positions indicated, whereupon the stop is allowed to returnto its normal position, as shown. The stop pin 37 is so disposed thatthe arm A is free to come to the position shown. The valve 7 is thusbrought to the salt wash position and, during the course of thesaltwash, waste water is diverted from the waste line it through thebypass tube 34 into the bucket 30. This continues until the trip bucket30 has been loaded with a predetermined amount of waste watercorresponding to a predetermined duration of the salt wash, as will beevident'from the foregoing description, sufficient to tilt the beam 22and allow arm B to swing past the end of the stop G underthe action ofthe weight 20.

The valve 7 is thereby turned in a clockwise direction through 90whereupon the end of the arm A. encounters the stop 8.. At that time thevalve7 is in the rinse position and here again waste water is divertedfrom the waste line 14 to the bucket 30.- The rinsing continues untilthe bucket 30 has been loaded sufficiently to further tilt the beam soto allow the arm A to pass the end of the stop C. The valve 7 is thusshifted again in a clockwise direction under the action of the weight 20until the dog 36 encounters the stop pin 37, whereupon the normalsoftening operation of the softener is resumed.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a clear understandingof my invention. It should be understood that while reference has beenmade to one specific embodiment the invention is susceptible ofconsiderable variation in'design and construction as well as in thearrangement of parts and for that reason the appended claims have beendrawn to cover all legitimate modificapin 37 projecting from the.

tions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention.

If desired the valve and valve operating mechanism may be so arrangedthat backwashing is included in the cycle of rcgeneratng operations toprecede the salt wash. The lnvention may be adapted to Water softenersofeither upflow or downflow type using any of the various well knowncycles of regencrating operations.

I claim:

1. A semi-automatic regenerative base exchange water softener comprisingin combination a softening tank'provided with pipe connections and valvemechanism, manually operable means for setting the valve mechanism tostart regeneration, mechanism operatively connected to said valvesettingmeans and adapted to store energy upon manually operating said means toset the valve mechanism to start regeneration, said energy storingmechanism being adapted to operate sub sequently the valve mechanism,mean's'for releasably holding said energy storing mechanism and timingmeans for releasing said holding means.

2. A semi-automatic regenerative base exchange water softener comprisingin c0111- bination a softening tank provided with pipe connections andvalve mechanism, manually operable means for setting the valve mechanismto start regeneration, mechanism operatively connected to saidvalve-setting means and adapted to store energy upon manually operatingsaid means to set the valve mechanism to start regeneration, said energystoring mechanism being adapted to operate subsequently the valvemechanism, means for releasably holding said energy storing mechanism,means for releasing said holding means and means automaticallycontrolling said releasing means in accordance with a predeterminedquantity of liquid passing through the softening tank.

3. A semi-automatic regenerative base exchange -water softenercomprising in combination a softening tank provided with pipeconnections and valve mechanism, manually operable means for setting thevalve mechanism to start regeneration, mechanism operatively connectedto said valve-setting means and adapted to store energy upon manuallyoperating said means to set the valve mechanism to start regeneration,said energy storof valve mechanism for controlling the pipe connectionsor the equivalent for said softener in the different phases of operationthereof, said valve mechanism being arranged to be manually operated inchanging from one phase to another, means arranged 1n the manualoperation to have energy stored therem sufiicient to operate the valvemechamsm automatically a plurality of times to change the phase thereoand means for successively rendering the last mentioned means operativeto produce a plurality of successive changes in the phase of operationof the softener.

5. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said sof-. tener forsoftening and regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupyinsoftening position and being arranged to e operated manually fromsoftening to regeneration position, and means operable automaticallyafter the valve mechanism has been 1n regeneration position for apredetermined period of time to return the same to softening position.

6. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent-for said softener forsoftening'and regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupyin softening position and being arranged to e operated manually from softeningto salt wash position, and means operated automatically when the valvemechanism has been in salt wash position for a predetermined length oftime to cause the operation thereof to rinse position and arranged to beoperated again automatically when the valve mechanism has been in rinseposition for a predetermined length of time to return the same tosoftening position.

7. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said sof-- tener forsoftening and regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupyingsoftening position and being arranged to be operated manually fromsoftening to salt wash position, and means operated automatically whenthe valve mechanism has allowed a certain amount of fluid to passtherethrough to cause the operation thereof to rinse position andarranged to be operated again automatically when the valve mechanism hasallowed a certain amount of fluid to pass there through to return thesame to softening position.

8. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener for softeningand regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupying softeningposition and being arranged to be-operated manually from softening toregeneration position, and means operated automatically when the valvemechanism has allowed a certain amount of fluid to pass therethrough tocause the operation thereof to softening osition.

9. The combination wit a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener in softeningand regeneration, means operable both manually and automatically foroperating said valve mechanism, said means being arranged to be operatedmanually to change from softening to regeneration, and means whereinenergy is stored in the aforesaid manual operation for later operatingthe last mentioned means automatically when the softener has completedits regeneration to change from regeneration back to softening position.

10. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener in softeningand regeneration, means operable both manually and automatically foroperating said valve mechanism, said means being arranged to be operatedmanually to change from softening to salt wash, and means wherein energyis stored in the aforesaid manual operation for later operating the lastmentioned means several times to change first from salt wash to rinseposition and later from rinse back to softening position, the saidoperations occurring automatically upon the completion of the said stepsin the regeneration of said softener.

11. The combination with'a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent therefor in softening andregeneration, means having connection with said valve mechanism arrangedto be operated manually in one direction to shift the valve fromsoftening position to regeneration position, means wherein energy isstored in said manual operation arranged'to tend to operate the same inthe opposite direction back to softening position, and means forpreventing the operation of said last mentioned means until the valvemechanism has been in-regeneration position a predetermined length oftime.

12. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or tl1e equivalent therefor in softening andregeneration, means having connection with said valve mechanism arrangedto be operated manually in one direction to shift the valve fromsoftening position to regeneration position, a weight raised in themanual operation arranged to tend to, operate the same in the oppositedirection back to softening position, and means for preventing theoperation of said weight until the valve mechanism has been inregeneration position a predetermined length of time.

13. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener in softeningand regeneration, means having connection with said valve mechanismarranged to be operated manually in one direction to shift the valvefrom softening position to regeneration position, means wherein energyis arranged to be stored in said manual operation ten ding to operatethe valve mechanism in the opposite direction, a stop or catchpreventing the operation ofsaid last mentioned means, and a trip bucketarranged whenloaded to a certain degree to retract said stop, said tripbucket being arranged to receive a metered stream of fluid in proportiontothe flow through the softener during regeneration.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein the valve mechanismduring regeneration is arranged to occupy a plurality of positions, themeans preventing the auto matic operationof said valve mechanismcomprising a plurality of parts in the nature of dogs arranged to engagethe stop successively in the different positions occupied by the valvemechanism, the trip bucket being arranged to retract the stopsuccessively for the successive operations of the valve mechanism. I

15. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein the valve mechanismduring regeneration is arranged to occupy a salt wash and a rinseposition successively, thesaid means for preventing the automaticoperation of said valve mechanism comprising two parts in the nature ofdogs arranged successively to engage said stop in the two positions ofthe valve mechanism, and said trip bucket being arranged to retract thestop a certain amount at the end of the salt wash to release one of thedogs and being arranged at the end of the rinse to retract the stopstill further to release the other dog.

., 16. The combination as set forth in claim 13 including spring meansnormally holding the stop in a certain position, the said trip bucketbeing arranged when loaded to counteract the action of the spring andwhen loaded to a certain degree to retract said stop, and means forvarying the action of the spring.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 13 including means'for varyingthe metered stream of fluid whereby to advance or retard the time ofoperation of the stop by the trip bucket.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 13 including a spring normallyholding the stop in a certain position against the action of the tripbucket, means for varying the action of said spring wherebyto affect thesensitiveness of the stop, and means for varying the metered stream offluid delivered to the trip bucket.

- 19. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanismcontrolling the pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener insoftening and regeneration, means having said stop in normal position,and a trip bucket arranged when loaded to oppose the action of saidspring and tend to retract said stop, said trip bucket being arranged toreceive a metered stream of fluid in proportion to the flow through thesoftener during regeneration, said trip bucket when loaded to a certaindegree serving to retract said stop a certain amount whereby to permitthe end of one of said arms to pass the same, and saidtrip bucket whenloaded still more serving to retract the stop farther whereby to allowthe end of the next arm to pass the same.

20. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said, softener for softeningand regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupying softeningpositidn andbeing arranged to be operated manually from softening toregeneration position and a mechanism arranged to be wound up in themanual operation of said valve mechanism from softening to'regenerationposition and tending thereafter to operate the valve mechanism back tosoftening position, said mechanism being arranged to unwind during theregeneration to bring the valve mechanism back to softening position.

21. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener for softeningand regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupying softoningposition and being arranged to be op .erated manually from softening toregeneration position, and a mechanism arranged to be operated in amoment by hand in the manual operation of the valve mechanism, fromsoftening to regeneration position and tending thereafter to operate thevalve mechanism back to softening position, said mechanism beingarranged to take appreciable time toget back to its initial position andinc being thereby arranged to predetermine the duration of theregeneration operation.

22. The combination with a softener of tion position, and a devicearranged to be loaded in the hand operation of said valve mechanisinfromsoftening to regeneration position and tending thereafter to operate thevalve mechanism back to softening posi tion, said device having meansfor permitting the same to unload itself only in a predetermined timewhereby to automatically operate the valve mechanism back to softeningposition only after a predetermined period of regeneration.

23. The combination with a softener of valve mechanism for controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener for softeningand regeneration, said valve mechanism normally occupying softeningposition and being arranged to be 0perated manually from softening toregeneration position, a part arranged in the manual operation of thevalve mechanism from softening to regeneration position to be raised,

said part thereafter tending to gravitate to its initial position andthereby operate the valve mechanism back to softening position, andmeans arranged to permit gravitation of said part only after apredetermined time has elapsed from the commencement of the regenerationwhereby to predetermined the period of regeneration. I

24. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connectionsor the equivalent therefor in softening andregeneration, means having connection with said valve mechanism arrangedto be operated manually in one direction to shift the valve fromsoftening position to regeneration position, means wherein energy isstored in said manual operation arranged.

to tend to operate the same in the opposite direction back to softeningposition, and means for preventing the operation of said last mentionedmeans until the valve mechanism has allowed a certain amount of fluid topass through the softener during 'regeneration.

25. The combinationwith a water softener" of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent therefor in softening andregeneration, means having connection with said valve mechanism arrangedto be operated manually in one direction to shift the valve fromsoftening position to regeneration position, a weight raised in themanual operation arranged to tend to operate the same in the oppositedirection back to softening position, and means for preventing theoperation of said weight until the valve mechanism has allowed a certainamount of fluid to pass through the softener during regeneration.

26. The combination with a water softener of valve mechanism controllingthe pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener in softeningand regeneration, a fixed stop, a part in the nature of a dog associatedwith the valve mechanism normally engaging said stop when the valvemechanism is in softening position, means having connection with saidvalve mechanism arranged to be operated manually in one direction toshift the valve from softening position to regeneration position, meanswherein energy is arranged to be stored in said manual operation tendingto operate the valve mechanism in the opposite direction, oneor moreother parts in the nature of dogs associated with the valve mechanismarranged to hold the valve mechanism in one or more other positions forregeneration, a movable stop arranged to be engaged by the lastmentioned parts in the one or more regeneration positions, and means forretracting said stop automatically when the valve has been in aregeneration position for a predetermined period of time.

27. The combination with a water softener, of valve mechanismcontrolling the pipe connections or the equivalent for said softener insoftening and regeneration, means having connection with said valvemechanism arranged to be operated manually in one direction to shift thevalve from softening position through a plurality of phases to startregeneration, means wherein energy is arranged to be stored in saidmanual operation tending to operate the valve mechanism in the oppositedirection, one or more parts in the nature of dogs associated with thevalve mechanism arranged to hold the valve mechanism in one or morepositions of regeneration, a movable stop arranged to be engaged by thelast mentioned parts in said regeneration positions, and means forretracting the stop automatically after the valve has been in a certainposition for a predetermined period of time.

28. The combination set forth in claim 27, wherein the dogs are ofgraduated lengths and wherein the movable stop in its first position isengaged by the shortest dog to hold the valve mechanism in a certainposition,

and after movement is arranged to be engaged by the next longer dog, andso forth.

29. The combination set forth in claim 27, wherein the dogs are. ofgraduated lengths and wherein the movable stop in its first posi tion isengaged by the shortest dog to hold the valve mechanism in a certainposition, and after movement is arranged to be engaged by the nextlonger dog, and so forth, and. wherein the means for retracting saidstop comprises a trip bucketarranged to receive a stream of water duringregeneration and arranged when loaded to a certain extent to move thestop a certain distance and when I loaded to a still further extent tomove the and by which liquids from difierent sources are passed throughthe softener and discharged otherwise than to service for operationsother than normal, valve-means controlling said system, the valve-meansbeing normally in position for the softening operation, and valveoperating and controlling mechanism adapted to be placed in operativecondition by setting the ,valve-means in position for the firstoperation other than normal, said mechanism when so rendered operativecausing successive operations of the valve-means as required to completethe cycle of operations other than normal and resumption of normaloperation and maintaining the valve-means in each position other thannormal for a predetermined period before moving the valve-means to thenext position.

In witness of the foregoing I affix my signature.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON.

